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From the SOCOM II to the Super Match, very few rifles are able to cover the versatility of the M1A. If you are looking for a rifle for close to medium range, you are covered with the scout rifles. If you ache for distance, the match and loaded models are the answer. Of course, you would need the best scope for M1A rifles of that type to maximize your shooting range.
Short on time? Check Out Our Top Picks for M1A Scopes!
- Leupold VX-3i 4.5-14X50
- Bushnell Trophy Multi-X 3-9 X 40mm
- TRACT Toric 3-15×50
- NightForce SHV 4-14×50 F1
- Zeiss Conquest V4 3-12×44
- Vortex Optics Viper PST
- Burris Scout Rifle Scope 2-7×32
- Primary Arms SLX Rifle Scope
The first question you will need to answer is what type of M1A do you want and what role would you like it to fill? Are you looking for a setup for close range or even CQB? Or do you want to push that 800 yard limit of the .308 cartridge? For this article, we will be focused more on a medium to long range option.
If you have decided that is the role you want for your M1A and have a suitable rifle, we can help! The larger models will be your best bet and are fine rifles! If not for being such a beast to carry, it may still be a battle rifle for our military. Instead, it has been relegated to some sniper setups and designated marksman rifles. A role it really excels at!
What We Will Cover
M1A Scopes Buyers Guide
With a proper scope and some skill, a Super Match or even a Loaded model can give you a fighting chance at a 1000 yard shot. Or maybe you don’t need that much if you are looking for a scout rifle with more moderate magnification. This is a part of the process for narrowing down your choice.
Let’s continue through the process of defining the best M1a scope for you.
What Magnification do you need?
The whole reason to have a scope is to make targets appear larger to narrow down your point of impact. This is likely the number one factor you are considering in an optic and the most important for your satisfaction. Just don’t overlook everything else to get a powerful optic, you will regret it.
Most military scoped rifles are a fixed 10 power and magnification around that range is a perfect starting point. With a 10 power scope, you should easily be able to hit targets at 500 yards, even with a scout rifle. The most common mistake is to go with too much magnification off the bat.
This is not to insinuate that there is no place for scopes in the 20x range for an M1A. Being a .308 is able to reach out to 800+ yards, there is room for a long-range scope for M1A rifles. Scopes for M1A loaded rifles or better can be more powerful if you want to achieve those ranges.
While a scout scope will generally benefit from lower powered optics, scopes with a zoom magnification can provide a good balance. They can moderate their power but still give you distance for long-range shots. This works well for both scout and higher-end M1As as well. Consider it the best of both worlds.
Without a zoom magnification and a low end of less than 10x, you will have no short range shooting capability. For scout rifles, I prefer something in the 4 or 5x range for short work. You can get those balanced with a high-end magnification of 14x or 15x.
Even for a 20x scope, you can often get low-end magnifications in the 6x or 8x range. Even a dedicated long range rifle could easily be scaled back to shoot targets in the 100-yard range with ease. While zoom optics are not without their faults, their benefits often outweigh any negatives.
One of those negatives is the focal plane. With first focal plane optics, your reticle zooms with the scope so you can always get an accurate range and bullet drop. Second focal planes are only accurate for those traits at the zoom they were sighted in at.
This is a distinct trade-off. Second focal plane optics are generally far cheaper than a first focal plane or FFP scope.
How Durable and Sturdy is the Scope?
The recoil alone of the M1A dictates that you need a more solid scope. For most shooters, the recoil isn’t all that bad but to an optic that takes that abuse frequently, it’s a different story. This isn’t like a .223 or 5.56mm rifle, it has some kick. Make sure any prospective scope can handle that abuse.
Most scopes are made to be shock-resistant to at least a 30 caliber round so you should be good. Just avoid any cheap scopes that may not be able to handle hard knocks. Manufacturers sometimes save money by going light on durability to provide better optical quality. Once a lens is out of alignment, no amount of optical quality is going to matter.
We sometimes drag our rifles into environments that can be pretty challenging. Things like water and dust can quickly render a scope unusable. Getting a scope that is sealed and possibly even purged of oxygen is a very good idea.
A bonus to purged scopes is that the inert atmosphere inside will not hold moisture so you should have no issues with fog or condensation. To save money, some companies will instead use a treatment on the lenses to avoid fog. While sealed is best, having some fog resistance is a huge bonus.
Even on a budget, you should aim to get a scope that is shock, water, and fog resistant. This ensures that your rifle will be usable in any normal environment. Nothing is worse than dragging a 10-pound rifle to your hunting sight only to realize you can’t see through the optics. Or worse, they are damaged.
What Mounts are best for an M1A?
Some models of the M1A will use standard scope rings and bases while others may benefit from a rail mounted system. The Scout and SOCOM have integral rails that do make mounting less of a fuss. Match M1As will often use standard scope mounts as used on older bolt guns.
There is no real, lasting benefit to either method. The rifle will dictate what you use but quality mounts will make either one just as accurate as the other. For match precision, you will want very accurate rings that are often not a part of a one-piece mounting system.
Whatever you do, avoid cheap rings. Nothing is worse on a rifle than investing hundreds into a scope and then mounting it with the cheapest rings you can find. The best rings will be accurately machined, trued, and lapped for perfect alignment and fit. They may cost more but they are worth the investment.
Getting cheap rings may cause your rifle to have trouble getting a good zero and may even affect its ability to hold that zero. Worse yet, some cheap rings may even damage your scope. Don’t risk your investment to save a buck or two.
Amazingly, there are some rings that are made of plastic. These are not appropriate for a quality rifle setup. Aluminum rings are somewhat better and can get you by but steel is the best choice. They are much stronger than aluminum and the weight difference is little enough that you won’t notice.
What Reticle is Best for an M1A Scope?
Any M1A rifle will benefit from a scope with some form of bullet drop compensation. Whether you go with MOA, MIL, or some proprietary reticle is up to you. If you have a BDC (Bullet Drop Compensation) pattern that you are used to using, go with that. If you are new to distance shooting, I prefer MOA to MIL as it usually matches the adjustments on the rifle.
That said, an M1A shoots flat and has minimal drop at closer ranges. For a Scout or SOCOM, you may not even need BDC but it’s better to have and not need as the saying goes. Still, you can get by with a standard crosshair for closer ranges if that is your preference for these rifles.
For any long distance rifle, you will want one of the more complicated reticles for sure. A standard crosshair is not going to function well in a rifle that is intended to shoot more than 300 yards. Stick to a BDC reticle for any rifle you want distance from.
If you are still unsure, check what the adjustments are for your chosen optic and get a reticle that matches them. MOA to MOA or MIL to MIL.
Turret or Capped Adjustments?
The final thing you will want to consider is the type of adjustments your optic will have. Since this is intended to be a ranged weapon, you should probably get turret adjustments. They do cost more but enable you to make on-the-fly adjustments for elevation and windage.
Sure, you can easily knock them out of zero but getting them back to zero is a simple task that takes seconds. This beats capped adjustments which are more suitable for a shorter range hunting rifle.
Best M1A Scopes on The Market
Because the M1A is in effect the basic M14 rifle with a few current upgrades, selecting a variety of scopes for the rifle is based on the 7.62X51 NATO round, ( 308 Winchester) everything will come to a stop regarding performance at 800 yards.
The following are some selected scopes that are a good match to the M1A, M14.
As a choice in scopes, the Leupold brand is upfront in the selection process. For years Leupold has been producing the M4 scope sight that is so good it is military /government-regulated in terms of ownership. I got in just under the wire re Leupold optics and yes, I have one of these glass sights mounted on a 7.62×51 sniper rifle. Based on that information I have selected several scopes that can at least ride on the same train as the Leupold glass sight for the most part.
1 Leupold VX-3i 4.5-14X50
Currently, I am running this scope on the Winchester XTR 6.5 Creedmoor. Longest successful shot to date on a whitetail? This would be 540 yards, and the rifle with this glass is going back into the prairie ridge country and shallow draws in South Dakota very soon once again.
This scope is a hunters model with close caps, a one-inch tube, modified glass for extra light transmission, and total repeatability when checking zero, or elevating for extended range shooting.
Built with 6061-T6 aircraft aluminum the scope is sold with a full lifetime guarantee.
2 Bushnell Trophy Multi-X 3-9 x 40mm
Dropping down in price, but well within the working limits of the rifle as chambering the 308 Winchester, this Bushnell scope is a workhorse and will outlast the shooter. Using the 3-9 power scope is just about letter-perfect when considering hunting range limits. The scope will return great results to 400 yards or more, and believe me, that is a poke down range to be sure.
This scope retains multi-coated lens surfaces, is 100% waterproof, carries a one-inch main tube size, and the sub tensions are based on the multi-x reticle. The eye relief is set at 4 inches, which is more than enough to allow for the M1A’s recoil.
3 TRACT Toric 3-15×50
This scope option is built by a newer company in the business, but rest assured that this glass sight is a quality product that will do the job as applied to the M1A. Using a bell housing that is 50mm the scope will pull in early morning and late evening light when that special buck walks into our kill net.
The scope uses special high-grade and custom designed lens material so as to produce the best quality sight picture possible even at longer ranges.
The sub-tensions on this lens surface are made up of an etch process, and the turret retains a side focus ability for very precise aiming at smaller long range targets. Being this is a hunting scope the turrets are capped versus open adjustable. Zero and closing the caps is the method of operation with this rifle scope. The reticle on this scope is the BDC style and that means you can quick dope your exact hold over on the fly when sighting a moving deer at any range.
Built under a lifetime warranty there are no chances taken when buying into the TRACT glass sight system.
4 NightForce SHV 4-14x50mm F1
NightForce is built on a main tube measuring 30mm and as such carries a whole lot of heavy internal hardware when it comes to making the sight function. Built in the first focal plane (FFP) which will change the size of the cross hairs with the increasing of magnification along with the target size.
The turrets on this scope are MOA graduations, and carry 90 MOA in elevation and 70 MOA in windage. This is far more than is required of the M1A in terms of its ballistic footprint, but it is nice to have in the performance bank anyway.
Using the 50mm lens this scope will pull light and also return ample viewing area as well. NightForce is known for its long range performance and this scope can keep the M1A in the game well out to its 800 yard stretched limit. Be advised however that a move to the newer 175 grain bullets will increase the effective range of the rifle, and a scope like this will take on the extra workload with ease.
5 Zeiss Conquest V4 3-12×44
This scope is backed by a lifetime warranty and is built to exacting German standards. Currently, I am testing a model of the Conquest scope and I have found nothing but positive performance standards returned by the product when in the field.
This scope retains an external elevation turret for fast increases when accurate additional range is required. This is a scope built off a one-piece tube and the turrets are again German engineered, and as such nothing less than accurate and built to a high-quality standard.
In terms of tube size and objective lens set in a 44mm housing, the scope is a good fit for the M1A 308 caliber rifle. This scope will push the range to the normal limits and then add on some extra performance when that special big game animal is just on the outside of the basic range limit.
The scope will move clicks in one MOA graduations, and the sub-tensions carry the Z Plex lens display. This scope is non-illuminated and uses a left-side capped windage adjustment knob.
6 Vortex Optics Viper PST
What I would consider the best M1A scope for the money when it comes to getting extreme range, the Vortex Viper is a true winner. You can get comparable scopes but they are likely to run well into the thousands of dollars and will provide very little benefit over the Vortex in the end.
What makes this a great scope is the superb lens quality and extra-low dispersion glass in a Vortex scope. On top of this, they multicoat all glass for the best and brightest images you can get. Top that off with a perfectly matched 50mm objective and you can’t do better.
All the lenses in the Viper are sealed and purged for the best you can get in dust, water, and fog resistance no matter the environment. The O-ring seal also provides over-the-top shock resistance for a lifetime of use. This is top of the line and will keep you shooting in the worst situations you could imagine!
With turret adjustments and various BDC reticles, this adjustable zoom scope works at a variety of ranges and conditions. The lowest 6x is a great magnification for shorter range shooting less than 100 yards. The 24x max zoom will get you out as far as you have the skill to shoot. When it comes to scopes for an M1A Loaded model, this is an excellent choice.
7 Burris Scout Rifle Scope 2-7×32
Burris makes a variety of riflescopes for all different applications. The Burris Scout 2-7x is a scope with excellent quality and a lifetime warranty for a scope with an affordable price tag compared to the competition.
It has a Ballistic reticle which is ideal for the M1A. It’s a simple reticle with an effective trajectory compensation. The eye relief of the Burris Scout is extremely generous between 9.2 and 12 inches which is exactly what you want with an M1A.
One of the best features that Burris incorporates into this design is how far forward you can mount the scope. Being able to mount the scope forward on the M1A puts the scope out of the way from the ejection port, but perhaps, more importantly, is that it allows you to keep both eyes on the target without your eyes becoming fatigued.
Additionally, the Scout is easy to use and adjust accordingly by turning the dials or turrets on the scope to adjust the magnification, windage, and elevation when zeroing in your shot.
8 Primary Arms SLX Rifle Scope
The Primary Arms SLX is an affordable scope with a near-perfect reticle when mounting on your M1A. This is arguably what makes the Primary Arms SLX a great option for the M1A. The reticle is an ACSS Raptor first focal plane reticle that auto-ranges out to 600 yards. It has full red illumination with 11 different brightness settings that you can choose from when shooting in various lighting conditions.
In addition to the precise reticle, the SLX is also high quality. It’s made of nitrogen-purged aluminum and is IP67 waterproof, fog-resistant, and comes with the Primary Arms warranty if the scope should become defective or damaged. The flip-up lens caps are convenient and ensure that your lenses always stay protected from the elements even when the scope is not in use.
Final Thoughts
With the M1A being the brainchild of the redeveloped M1 Grand back in the day, this receiver and general profile associated with the M1A will allow the shooter to select from a broad range of glass sight systems and sizes. In short, this rifle design is a natural for a good fit in terms of almost whatever the shooter desires to use in sighting systems.
No matter how you plan to use your M1A, these scopes should have you covered. Whether it’s a Scout or a Loaded model, all of these scopes should cover every possibility. Mostly this is due to the amazing M1A rifle but having the best scope for it never hurts.
When getting the best scope for M1A rifles you won’t go wrong with the power, ruggedness, and sheer quality of these scopes. Of course, the more you spend the better you will get but even at the low end, these scopes beat anything you will find in a box store. They also beat anything you can find online short of multi-thousand dollar options.
